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The wife of former high-flying Chinese politician Bo Xilai has gone on trial charged with murdering British businessman Neil Heywood, BBC reported.

Gu Kailai is accused of poisoning Mr Heywood in 2011 in Chongqing, where her husband was the Communist party head.

State media has called the case against her and an aide "substantial."

The country is preparing to install a new generation of leaders, and Bo Xilai had once been seen as a strong contender for one of the top jobs.

He was sacked in March and is currently under investigation for unspecified "disciplinary violations."

The BBC's John Sudworth says some Chinese leaders are said to welcome the demise of such an openly ambitious colleague, but the case still needs careful handling for fear it might taint the Communist Party itself.

Ms Gu, 53, who is a well-known lawyer, is being tried in the city of Hefei.

Dozens of uniformed and plain-clothes police were stationed around the court building, at which a convoy of black cars was seen arriving on Thursday morning.

British diplomats are being allowed to witness the trial but journalists will not be attending. Ms Gu is being represented by state-appointed lawyers.

Mr Heywood's body was found at a hotel in Chongqing in November 2011, and the death was recorded as a heart attack at the time.

But four months later Mr Bo's right-hand man, police chief Wang Lijun, fled to a US consulate to allege murder and a massive cover-up.

Ms Gu and her aide Zhang Xiaojun are now accused of killing Mr Heywood, who is said to have been a business associate.